The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-01-01
IMITATION GEMS.
The Late Methods Taken to Gull
the Public.
A Gambler and His wife's Stolen Paste
Jewels-split Diamonds with =
Tinfoll Backing-Deceptive
"DOubtets Mock
Pearls, Etc.


That old saying which tells us there
are tricks in all trades" would APP
pear from recent exposures and expla-
nations to be almost more applicable
to jewellers than to other traders; and
If only one-half of the misdemeanors
with which they are charged be true,
they deserve to be placed in the front
rank of trade tricksters. There are,
however. jewelers. and jewellers, and al
though, happily. as class they are
above suspicion, yet, as our courts
of justice occasionally reveal, there are
also not few black-sheep in the flock
men who do not scruple to deal in
''doublets" and paste, and who pass off
gems and jewels as genuine. that they
know to be either altogether false, or
to possess some hidden flaw sufficient
greatly to lessen their value. Every
now and then we find in the news
papers q paragraph or longer article
concerning mystery gold," ''forged
gems" or false jewels" Recent ex-
amples of this kind of news have ap-
peared to the effect that an important
discovery had been made regarding the
crown OF foreign potentate, as well
as a diamond necklace of lady of
rank, many of the gems in the latter
article being made of paste; whilst the
diadem of the King is announced to be
little better than theatrical bauble,
most of the real stones having been ex-
tracted and their places filed with
imitation ones. Another announce
mcnt of the kind calls attention to the
fact of several imitation stones hay-
ing been found in a jewelled collar
hitherto supposed to be of very great
value, and which had been sold by an
illustrious person in ignorance Of the
fact.
what is paste?" asked a London
magistrate, in the course Of his exami-
nation into acharge of selling imitation
stones for real ones. paste, SIR" re-
piled the witness, .'means mixture of
violin glass and borax;" from which,
as we have been informed, the closest
limitations of diamonds and other
precious stones can be made. Visitors
to Paris who have Toasted their ewes on
the made-up gems so lavishly displayed
in the jewellers windows of the Rue
de la Paix and the Palais-Royal, feel
surprised when they are told that four
ffths of the glittering baubles are CON-
posed of paste, and are of little value
as compared with real gems. 1t used
to be said that most of the iewelry
shown in the Palais- Royal was manu-
featured for use on the stage; but
the actresses of to-day. unless obliced
to wear paste, will, when they can afford
1t, adorn their persons with none but
real gems. The names of several artists
might easily be given who are repnted
to be passing rich in diamonds and ru-
bies, and who are possessed besides of
pearls OF great price. Some actresses.
indeed. seem to draw audiences nova.
days as much BY the aid of their Jewels
as their talents. When female star
visits the provinces, pains are fire.
quently taken to proclaim the number
and value Of her gems and jewels. Who.
then, wears the paste diamonds and
other imitation gems which are manu-
facturedP To this question, an answer
of rather astartling kind has more than
once been given. and one of the latest
may here be noted. A gentleman who
was deeply involved in the pursuits of
the turf requiring considerable sum
of money TO pay his debts of honor,
stole his wife's jewels in order to pawn
them. To his CONSERVATION. the pawn
broker refused to look at them.
"WhyP" was feverishly asked. ''Be-